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Hemopet Correspondence

In December 2008, we received a call from Dr. Jean Dodds with Hemopet. She was upset with the posting on our website referencing Hemopet as possibly not having legal authorization or ownership to keep all of the greyhounds they were using as blood donors. The day after that correspondence, we received a letter for their attorney, Mr. Charles Berman (Dr. Dodds' husband), and since there have been several communications back and forth regarding the greyhounds in their possession.

In the meantime, NGAP has undertaken an investigation to determine if greyhounds being used as blood donors by Hemopet were legally released by their registered owners. We have found numerous cases where owners had not given permission for their greyhounds to be used as blood donors and we continue to investigate further. The correspondence between ourselves, Hemopet and our attorney are listed below.

December 5, 2008
Email from Charles Berman to David Wolf:

Dear Mr. Wolf:

I attach a letter for your immediate response.

Charles Berman

Dear Mr. Wolf:

We write to you on behalf of Hemopet, a non-profit organization. I am also the General Counsel for Hemopet.

Dr. Dodds has shown us your web site, where you make defamatory and libelous statements about Hemopet and their greyhound rescue and adoption program. None of your assertions are correct in any single statement, and you are causing Hemopet immediate damages. Dr. Dodds spoke with you yesterday, December 4, 2008, about the content of your website.

Dr. Dodds invited you to inspect Hemopet whenever you wanted. That invitation is still open.

You indicated to her that you would change your web site immediately. On checking your web site today this has not been done.

You are put on notice that Hemopet requires immediately:

A written apology addressed by you and your organization to Hemopet.

Immediate deletion from your web site of anything that is defamatory and libelous to Hemopet.

A notice on your web site apologizing to Hemopet.

An undertaking from you and your organization to refrain in the future from making statements of this nature, whether those statements are made on the Internet, web site, written oral or in any form of media.

Since your web site has other comments addressed generally to the care of greyhounds in institutions, you need to make absolutely clear that in no way are you alluding directly or indirectly or suggesting that Hemopet is on of those institutions. Those clarifying statements need to be present and highlighted in a prominent part of your web site. If they are not presented to our satisfaction, we will regard your efforts as inadequate to prevent damages to Hemopet. We invite you to show us your proposed change of wording.

One suggestion we have for you is to immediately remove in its entirety the offending web page, until you check your facts.

If this is not done forthwith, meaning by Monday December 8, 2008, Hemopet will take whatever legal action is necessary against you personally and your organization.

All further correspondence needs to be addressed to the undersigned and copied to Dr. Dodds at Hemopet.

Sincerely,

Charles Berman

December 5, 2008
Email from David Wolf to Charles Berman:

Dear Mr. Berman,

Revisions were dictated to my secretary late yesterday afternoon after my conversation with Dr. Dodds. That revision was approved today and added to the website early this afternoon. Our website automatically reloads overnight and the revision will not be visible until tomorrow. We do not believe this is an unreasonable amount of time. The revision, which is based on my conversation with Dr. Dodds, was inserted into the original text and reads:

*We have recently been in contact with Hemopet, directed by Dr. Jean Dodds, whom I have personally known for many years. She assures me that all of her greyhounds have been legally obtained and has promised to send evidence of that fact to us. She has also said that all of her greyhounds are adopted out and that California law does not permit her to have a bloodmobile, such as the ones run here in Pennsylvania. She is sending me the two corresponding statutes dealing with that issue. We will add further information as it becomes available.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David Wolf

December 5, 2008
Email from Charles Berman to David Wolf:

Dear Mr. Wolf:

Your early response is appreciated. I have fixed two typos in your amended text. See below.

Dr. Dodds will review your web pages this weekend and we will revert to you again after that with other changes that may be needed.

This section of the Food and Ag Code may be what you were referenciing:
9212. The secretary shall license biologic establishments that meet all of
the following:

(a) Operate under conditions, and use methods of production, to insure
that the biologics will not be contaminated, dangerous, or harmful.

(b) Produce biologics under the direct supervision of a person qualified
in the field of production of biologics.

(c) For those commercial blood banks for animals licensed by the
department, maintain onsite records containing information
documenting how the animal was acquired and any history of blood draws or
use of anesthesia on the animal.

December 10, 2008
Email from Charles Berman to David Wolf:

Mr. Wolf,

You now have the statutes. Your web page has not been changed as of Dec 10 (last update) as per Hemopet's requests.

Please advise when this will be done.

Charles Berman

December 11, 2008
Email from David Wolf to Charles Berman:

Dear Mr. Berman,

We have deleted one additional sentence from our website which will probably post tomorrow. In speaking with our own attorney, he feels that until such time as we receive information from you regarding the acquisition of the 200 greyhounds you currently have, we have no obligation to make any further changes on our website.

I could not find any information referencing procurement of blood through the use of a bloodmobile in the California statutes you sent us. We ask that you clarify the specific passages in the statute relevant to my discussions with Dr. Dodds.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David Wolf

December 11, 2008
Email from Charles Berman to David Wolf:

Mr. Wolf:

Thank you ..we will review tomorrow.

As Dr. Dodds had agreed with you -a representative group of the greyhound data will be sent to you shortly..not 200.

You were invited to visit Hemopet anytime...that invitation remains open.

Thank you

Charles Berman

December 11, 2008
Email from Dr. Jean Dodds to David Wolf:

Dear David: See attached. This is the newer legislative bill that upated the originial CA statues requiring closed colony blood donors for commercial animal blood banks operating in the State of California.

California Code of Regulations -- California is the only state that regulates animal blood banks and passage of SB 1345, which took effect January 2003, requires annual inspections by the state's Animal Health & Food Safety Services Division and defines several other quality standards.

Jean

December 12, 2008
Email from Charles Berman to David Wolf:

Mr. Wolf:

Dr. Dodds has reviewed your change. It is unsatisfactory.

You really appear to have misread the seriousness with which this will be pursued.

You have the statute and the second email about the statute. (It is forwarded again with this email--so there is no misunderstanding about it).

Hemopet's demands as initially stated to you are reiterated.

I suggest you make the changes immediately. If you can't make changes--remove this page overnight.

Since you have a lawyer on this matter --we should be corresponding directly with your lawyer. Please give me the name and contact information of the lawyer so that all further correspondence and legal matters can be handled through your lawyer.

I have had a very busy week and haven't had a chance to get this letter out to you until today. We have been in touch with Hemopet regarding the method of acquisition of their greyhounds and have expressed our concern over whether all of their greyhounds have been obtained legally. For us, 'legally' means that the registered owner of each greyhound has given specific express permission for their greyhound to be placed in a blood bank facility where it could be used for a period of time. Although Hemopet has assured me that all of the greyhounds in their facility have been acquired legally, we have found that in most cases at other facilities, greyhounds have been acquired from adoption programs that give up either surplus greyhounds or those that are difficult to place for one reason or another instead to taking the time to appropriately house them or having the dogs euthanized. Unfortunately, most of these transfers are done without the owners' knowledge that their greyhounds have been placed in a blood bank as opposed to being adopted. We have asked Dr. Dodds to give us information regarding the 200 or so greyhounds in her possession relating to their acquisition.

In my conversation with Dr. Dodds, I stressed to her that we were not against the use of blood donors, but rather the use of captive blood donors, with special focus on greyhounds which have already been exploited for most of their life. You can certainly read our position on blood donors at length on our website, www.ngap.org, under 'Advocacy'. Dr. Dodds and I also spoke about the University of Pennsylvania's blood donor program. They have a bloodmobile that draws blood from pre-certified donors in different areas and thereby have no need to house any captive blood donors at their facility. Dr. Dodds said she was prohibited from doing this in accordance with California state law and I am subsequently writing you to see if this is actually the case and if you could possibly please provide us with details, if so.

I would appreciate your response at your earliest convenience.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David Wolf

January 13, 2009
Email from Charles Berman to Steve Foxman:

This email has been intentionally omitted.

Jan 15, 2009
Email from David Wolf to Charles Berman:

Dear Mr. Berman,

At the moment I am very busy trying to complete our kennel here in Philadelphia, but I can arrange for someone to come and inspect the dogs and take photographs and notes from their observations. When I return from the North American Veterinary Conference I will arrange for someone from California to make such an inspection.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David Wolf

January 16, 2009
Email from Charles Berman to Steve Foxman:

Email intentionally omitted.

January 27, 2009
Email from David Wolf to Charles Berman:

Dear Mr. Berman,

I have received information from our attorney that you have rescinded your initial offer regarding an inspection of Hemopet and will now only accept a visit by me personally accompanied by counsel and that we would not be permitted to record any information from the records that we review. Obviously, this is an unacceptable proposal and we will proceed as we deem appropriate.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David Wolf

February 19, 2009
Update from David Wolf

As of today, investigations are underway to determine what legal action can be filed against Hemopet with the State of California. After that information has been determined, legal action will be taken for their acquisition of greyhounds for use as blood donors without permission of their owners. Hemopet has been very quiet lately.

April 3, 2009
Letter from David Wolf to the California Department of Food & Agriculture:

To whom it may concern:

As the director of National Greyhound Adoption Program, Inc. (ďNGAPĒ), I am writing to advise you that NGAP believes that greyhounds that were transferred by their owners either to Hemopet directly, or to other adoption programs, specifically for adoption into private homes as a pet, were instead placed with or used by Hemopet as blood donors without the knowledge or consent of their owners.

Enclosed are copies of affidavits from greyhound owners we contacted that state that they specifically were told that their greyhounds would be placed in a private home only, had no knowledge that their greyhounds would be used as a blood donor, and did not give permission for their greyhounds to be transferred to Hemopet or any other blood bank for use as a blood donor. In addition, we believe that these greyhounds are not provided with socialization, turn-outs and exercise programs by Hemopet once Hemopet obtains custody of the greyhounds, which we believe to be both necessary and appropriate for proper care and treatment of the dogs.

Our concern is to prevent any misrepresentation to unsuspecting dog owners that their dogs will be placed in a private homes, without disclosing that they will in fact be used as blood donors until a private home is found or in some cases indefinitely. We would ask the Department to request the racing names and tattoo numbers of all the greyhounds being held at Hemopet as well as the date of acquisition so we would be able to determine by checking with the National Greyhound Association if such dogs were obtained by Hemopet through any misrepresentation. We have previously asked Hemopet for this information and were denied.

We had contacted the California Department of Justice through our counsel, and they suggested that this information should be directed to your office.

We would greatly appreciate your office following up on this complaint and the enclosed affidavits, in order to prevent any misrepresentation from occurring in the future.

The California Veterinary Biologics Program, established through Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9CFR) 107.2, issues licenses to biologics establishments and registers biologics products through the authorities of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 3, Chapter 8, Article 1, Sections 1305.00 - 1305.12, and applies regulations for the production of veterinary biologics through the California Food and Agriculture Code (FAC), Sections 9201 - 9272. Review of these references will provide you with information of the regulatory requirements for licensed firms.

We are in receipt of your April 3, 2009 letter advising us of your concerns for greyhounds that may be part of a colony owned by Hemopet in Garden Grove, California. As a California licensed commercial blood bank, Hemopet is subject to applicable California laws and regulations. Evidence, to support your assertion that Hemopet greyhounds are not provided proper care and treatment, including socialization, turn-outs and exercise, should be forwarded for review and investigation.

We recommend that if specific animal information is desired, direct contact with the firm be made to acquire this information. California Department of Food and Agriculture records relating to the Veterinary Biologics Program are confidential and not subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (FAC Section 9268).

We are in receipt of your December 22, 2008 letter of inquiry regarding California law and commercial animal blood donors in California. The California Veterinary Biologics Program, established through Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9CFR) 107.2, issues licenses to biologics establishments and registers biologics products through the authorities of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 3, Chapter 8, Article 1, Sections 1305.00 - 1305.12, and applies regulations for the production of veterinary biologics through the California Food and Agricultural Code (FAC), Sections 9201 - 9272. The applicable standards for the production of biologics are established in Chapter 1, Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations pertaining to Virus, Serum, Toxins and Analogous products [CCR 1305.01 (a)].

Title 9 CFR defines an establishment as "one or more premises designated on the establishment license". A premises is defined as "all buildings, appurtenances, and equipment used to produce and store biological products located within a particular land area shown on building plans or drawings furnished by the applicant or the licensee and designated by an address adequate for identification". Applications for a California veterinary biologics license require a full description of the building, including its location, facilities, equipment, and apparatus to be used in biologics production [FAC Section 9221(c)]. FAC Section 9211 specifies the types of establishments in which biologics may be produced. The definition of "biologics" [FAC Section 9203] includes serum and blood for use in animals other than man. The definition of "production" includes the collection of biologic material (FAC Section 9204). Commercial blood banks for animals in California are subject to these as well as other specific regulations regarding protocols for animal identification, frequency and volume of blood donation, husbandry standards, ongoing veterinary care, socialization and exercise programs, and a permissive adoption program.

The references for requirements to obtain and maintain a California Veterinary Biologics License are:

At this time, California has not received any applications for licensure of a bloodmobile for commercial canine blood banking. The University of California (UC) Davis established a community bloodbank similar to the Penn Animal Blood Bank for the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. Blood donations in the UC Davis program are for exclusive use in the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Blood and blood products in this program are not for commercial sale and distribution and are not regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The addition of a bloodmobile for this program is tentatively planned for the future.

We trust that your inquiry has been answered. Please note that records held by the California Department of Food and Agriculture relating to Veterinary Biologics Program are confidential and not subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act (FAC Section 9268).

Sincerely,

Kent Fowler, D.V.M.

May 19, 2009
Letter from David Wolf to Kent Fowler, D.V.M:

Dear Dr. Fowler,

I wish to receive clarification regarding precisely what the California Department of Food and Agriculture will do with my complaint referencing Hemopet. What action is the state going to take? Your letter sounds as though you would expect me to gather all of the information regarding the greyhounds at Hemopet. This would be next to impossible as they are no longer communicating with me. The State of California is in a position to obtain this information and I believe is obligated to do that for the welfare of the greyhounds involved. Please advise, as soon as possible, the intentions of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in this matter. I can be reached via mail, email or telephone at the contact information listed above.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David G. Wolf

June 10, 2009
Letter from David Wolf to the Public Inquiry Unit, Office of the Attorney General in California:

To whom it may concern:

I am filing this complaint as the Director and Manager of National Greyhound Adoption Program. Through independent research, NGAP discovered that greyhounds, left by their owners with adoption groups, specifically to be adopted into homes as pets, were instead placed with Hemopet for use as blood donors. These greyhounds were used as blood donors without the express consent of their respective owners. Hemopet benefited from this misrepresentation and failed to contact the owners for permission to use the dogs as blood donors. Attached hereto are affidavits from greyhound owners which state that they specifically requested that their greyhound be placed in a private home only, had no knowledge that their greyhound would be used as a blood donor and did not give permission for their greyhound to be transferred to Hemopet or any other blood bank for use as a donor.

In addition we feel these greyhounds may not be provided with adequate socialization and exercise programs as is appropriate for former racing greyhounds.

It is our mission to have Hemopet stop misrepresenting unsuspecting owners and having them believe that their dogs will be placed into private homes as soon as possible without disclosing that they will in fact be used as blood donors until a private home is found, or in some cases, indefinitely.

EXHIBIT A

COMMENTS:

In earlier communications with Hemopet, they said they would provide us with information regarding the acquisition of their greyhounds and would allow us to inspect their facility and observe their daily activities. They later altered that offer and said we could only come and review documentation and could not take notes or photographs or make copies of any documents. Ultimately, they stopped communicating with us and our attorney and no resolution was ever made.

EXHIBIT B

COMMENTS:

It is our belief that Hemopet acquired their blood donor greyhounds through misrepresentation and have no legal right to keep them. We ask that the state aid us in acquiring all information regarding each greyhound including color, sex, racing name and ear tattoo numbers so that we can contact their owners and find out if the greyhounds were legally acquired at the time Hemopet originally obtained the dogs. We would also like the state to aid us in obtaining each greyhoundís health records to assure us that their health needs are being met timely and appropriately. We ask that the state inspect, or permit us along with a state official to inspect, the Hemopet facility and observe the daily activities. We have been operating a greyhound holding facility for over 15 years and would be better qualified to identify inadequacies than others may be. Specifically, we would like to know how many times each day the greyhounds are allowed out of their cages to socialize, exercise and relieve themselves.

If it is proven that the greyhounds being used at Hemopet were illegally acquired, it is our hope that they would be released to us and we could then proceed to find adoptive homes for them, as was originally intended.

Moving forward, we request that the state require Hemopet to notify any existing blood donor or potential blood donorís owners to get appropriate permission for the dog to be used as a blood donor, outlining a maximum period of time that the dog will be a captive donor and to keep these dogs under excellent housing conditions while they are being kept, OR to immediately halt the practice of keeping and maintaining greyhounds for use as blood donors as other reasonable alternatives are available.

EXHIBIT C

COMMENTS:

I am filing this complaint as the Director and Manager of National Greyhound Adoption Program. Through independent research, NGAP discovered that greyhounds, left by their owners with an adoption program specifically to be adopted into homes as pets, were instead placed with Hemopet for use as blood donors. These greyhounds were used as blood donors without the express consent of their respective owners. Hemopet benefited from this misrepresentation and failed to contact the owners for permission to use the dogs as blood donors. Attached hereto are affidavits from greyhound owners which state that they specifically requested that their greyhound be placed in a private home only, had no knowledge that their greyhound would be used as a blood donor and did not give permission for their greyhound to be transferred to Hemopet or any other blood bank for use as a donor.

June 26, 2009
Letter from C. Hallinan, Public Inquiry Unit, Office of the Attorney General in California to David Wolf:

Dear Mr. Wolf:

Thank you for your letter of June 10, 2009 to the Office of Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

In California, animal blood banks are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. If you wish to pursue this matter, we suggest that you contact:

In addition, for your convenience, I have attached the related California statutes for your review.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

C. Hallinan

July 7, 2009
Letter from David Wolf to Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General of California:

Dear Mr. Brown,

I previously submitted a complaint to your office in regards to misrepresentation by Hemopet located in your state. I originally began by contacting the California Department of Food and Agriculture and sent four separate correspondences which I have enclosed for your review. They have yet to respond with a solution to my complaint and so subsequently I have filed an action with your state. Your response requests that I now go back to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

I believe I have made a formal complaint with your state that justifies both action as well as a corrective action to be taken by your state as recommended in my correspondence. Misrepresentation is a crime, whether it be against dogs or people, and we expect the state of California to take this matter seriously. I would hope the next response from your office will indicate that that is being done.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,

David G. Wolf

August 3, 2009
Letter from C. Hallinan, Public Inquiry Unit, Office of the Attorney General in California to David Wolf:

Dear Mr. Wolf:

Thank you for your correspondence to the Office of the Attorney General. Often, it is only through letters from concerned and responsible citizens, like you, that we become aware of matters of public concern.

From the information you provided, it appears that you have already contacted the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which is the agency that can best assist you. This agency has primary jurisdiction over your area of concern.

We acknowledge your complaint about how the Department of Food and Agriculture has handled your complaint, however we are unable to assist or comment on this matter. The Attorney General's Office is required by law to provide legal representation to state agencies in disputes rising out of their actions. This duty precludes the Attorney General from representing individual citizens in their disagreements with state agencies or providing advice to any individual regarding the disputed activity. While the Attorney General represents state departments in legal matters, he does not seek to impose his own policy judgments or control the administration of the business of his client agencies.

If you wish to pursue this matter and require further assistance, you may also wish to consult with a private attorney. An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you.

Again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

C. Hallinan

May 17, 2010

On May 17, 2010, it was brought to our attention that article had been published in Animal Wellness Magazine touting the wonderful work that Dr. Jean Dodds and her organization, Hemopet, were doing. According to the article, Hemopet houses approximately 175 greyhounds for use as blood donors and distributes approximately 14,000 half pints of blood throughout North America and Hong Kong.

Around the same time (May 13th), another article on Hemopet was published in the Chicago Tribune. We sent the writer of that article the same reply that we sent to Animal Wellness Magazine.

We sent both the writer and the editor of Animal Wellness Magazine the following response:

Dear Sara (Jackson-Author),

A greyhound advocate recently sent me a copy of your article which outlines all of the wonderful things being done by Dr. Jean Dodds at Hemopet in California - how taking blood from greyhounds saves the lives of so many dogs across the country. Somewhere in the article, the most important thing has been grossly overlooked. Most greyhounds held in blood banks are there through misrepresentation. Misrepresentation is illegal in the U.S. For the most part, the registered owners of these dogs had given them up to be adopted, not to be incarcerated for an undefined period of time to be used as blood donors and kept in conditions that, in my view, are substandard. After years of racing and being captive to the racing industry, they are now just captive to another industry.

I have to point out that I am not against dogs being used a blood donors.¬ Although the University of Pennsylvania and I do not agree on many things, they probably have the best blood donor program in the nation which they have been running for years. They have a blood mobile that drives out to a meeting point where preselected dogs in different areas have blood drawn in the morning and are back in their homes by the afternoon, rolling over, sleeping soundly, with children possibly playing in the background. It's not like that at Hemopet. I suggest you start off by reading through our correspondence with Hemopet on our website ( http://www.ngap.org/hemopet-correspondence-y353.html ) as well as with the other blood banks we have had dealings with ( http://www.ngap.org/ngap-advocacy-z216.html ). If you take the time to read it all, you may want to rewrite your article!

Hemopet was initially outraged by our accusations and they offered to let me come and visit. Later, they put restrictions on that visit such as not being able to make notes or take photographs. They have since moved into a new facility but their website doesn't show any pictures of how the dogs live. The Hemopet colony is kept away from the general public. The greyhounds that are being used as blood donors do not go out for walks, they are not turned out for exercise five times a day like the greyhounds in our kennel are and I'm not quite sure what condition their teeth are in, which is important since greyhounds have inherently bad teeth. Visit our website and you'll see how our dogs live! Volunteers come and walk them seven days a week, weather permitting. They runs are raised off the floor so they never have to live in their own soil, they have a soft bed raised up off the floor for them to sleep on. If they choose not to sleep in their bed, a soft and comfortable rubber mat covers the epoxy coated floor grids. Our dogs are kept until they are adopted and we have all of the records to show it. I read that Hemopet had a two-month waiting list of adopters wanting their greyhounds, but I can show you dated printouts from their website from over a year ago of dogs that are still currently listed as available for adoption.

The State of California mandates certain restrictions for such facilities but for some reason they don't make waves with Hemopet and, if you read into their letters to me, they would prefer that I go away. However, I have had calls from people that have said that Hemopet draws blood too often from their dogs and I have had calls from people that have said worse. I cannot verify if these things are true or not, since they are not very open about what they do. It was interesting to note that once Hemopet learned that we had letters signed by owners verifying that they had not given permission for their dogs to be used as blood donors, we never heard another word from them, not another loud accusation for us to stop bothering them. They just became more secretive. Hopefully, they will feel inclined to treat the dogs better in fear that one of these days an employee will call us up and blow the whistle.

If you were to get a tour of Hemopet's facility, you might be impressed but only because you don't know any better. When I toured the Animal Medical Center in New York City, they thought I would be impressed. Instead I was outraged and although it took me four years, we finally were able to get all of the greyhound blood donors out of the AMC - thankfully! The last four AMC greyhounds came into our program here. After four years of dealing with a paranoid 30-million-dollar-year-organization, it was just so great to get those last four dogs here! Three of them have been adopted. The fourth, Houdini, is still here. You can look him up on our website. He has a far better life here and with any luck we may someday be able to find the perfect home for him.

There is another place that is worse than Hemopet. It is the Pet Blood Bank in Austin, Texas. Look them up. Try and find them. Investigate them. We had gotten a few of their dogs a few year back and the same misrepresentation applied not to mention that medically, some of the dogs were in appalling condition. We had gotten a list of sixteen greyhounds that had been released across the country and those whose owners we contacted had never given permission, although some specifically didn't care. Most even signed letters stating they had not given permission and some were even notarized.

Why do they blood banks use greyhounds as blood donors? 70% of greyhounds are universal blood type and they have high PAC counts, but most of all, they are easy. On the flipside of the coin, many have been exposed to tick borne diseases and will carry those titers with them. A high percentage will have von Willbrands disease and almost all have platelets lower than the normal dog. So when you get right down to it, blood banks use greyhounds because they are easy to get and they are easy to bleed. Dr. Dodds may not look quite so good anymore.

I would be more than happy to discuss this in greater detail with you and it would be nice to have some response to this article in your magazine telling the truth and nothing but the truth.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,
David G. Wolf

May 18, 2010
Whether intentional or not, we received the following email from Ann Brightman, Animal Wellness Magazine:

Thanks Sara. Iím not sure what we can do about this. Dr. Jean Dodds has been a supporter of us since our beginnings. I really canít believe she would mistreat or neglect any dogs in her care. Iíll forward it to our Editor-in-Chief, but we donít want to get caught in the middle of a fight.

Ann

Ann Brightman
Managing Editor
Animal Wellness & Feline Wellness

May 19, 2010
Email from David Wolf to Ann Brightman:

Dr. Ms. Brightman,

We are unsure of whether this email to Sara Jackson was intended for us as well. However, just to clarify, we don't look for others to champion our causes but, to be fair, people should be able to look objectively at the blood donor issue. I would be happy to dictate a response to that article for you to publish in your magazine which would refer people to our website where they can make the decision for themselves. I believe that any level headed person reading our correspondence would be on our side. I would hope to hear back from you.

And just for your information, Hemopet's attorney is also Dr. Dodds' husband.

Greyhounds are greyt as pets,
David G. Wolf

May 19, 2010>
Email from Ann Brightman to David Wolf:

Thanks David. I will be in touch if we need more info. This has to be discussed with our Editor-in-Chief and CEO.

Ann

Ann Brightman
Managing Editor
Animal Wellness & Feline Wellness

On May 20, 2010 we were contacted by yet another advocate in reference to ANOTHER article written about Hemopet, this time in Cesar Milan's magazine. We tried several times to get an email address so we could respond directly to the editor, but we're unsuccessful. I believe Cesar Milan may be as hard to get in direct contact with as the President of the United States!

May 21, 2010
Sent to Cesar's Way via Form Mail on the website www.cesarsway.com:

You recently ran a story regarding Hemopet, describing it as a 'Hound Haven'. I would better describe it as a 'Hound Hell'. First, you have to understand that greyhounds have been exploited since birth from the racing industry. At least while they are racing and kenneled, they are turned out of their cages at least three times a day and at our own kennel, five times a day so that they don't have to relieve themselves inside their cage. When you look at pictures of Hemopet's new facility, they show you no pictures of the inside of the kennel where their greyhound blood donors are kept. Almost no one is allowed in that kennel, not even volunteers. I read another article a short time ago that said there was a two month waiting list for dogs to be adopted. In the meantime they have 35 dogs listed for adoption on their website and many of them have been there for at least a year. To the best of my knowledge those dogs are still being used as donors. The greyhounds available for adoption are the only ones that go on walks. Blood donors do not. They are captive animals. Many of them are there through misrepresentation. Their registered owners had not specifically ever given permission for their dogs to be used as blood donors and many thought they were going to an adoption program to be kept as pets. I suggest you read more about this on our website www.ngap.org, both http://www.ngap.org/announcement-greyhounds-hemopet-pbb-y338.html and http://www.ngap.org/hemopet-correspondence-y353.html . Initially, Hemopet was very angry with us and demanded that we remove certain content. When they realized that we had signed papers from owners that had never given permission for their dogs to be blood donors, they melted into the woodwork. They do not need praise. What they need is for a few knowledgeable people to visit and point out all of the things that are wrong in what they do. We run a kennel to adopt greyhounds, the National Greyhound Adoption Program. We have been in operation for about the same period of time as Hemopet - but we have adopted over 7000 greyhounds. I would like to see them account for all of the greyhounds that have passed through their portals. Ask Caesar to visit Hemopet, take a pen and pencil with him and write down the ear tattoo numbers of every greyhound he can, pass it on to us and we will be happy to prove our point. Not a 'Hound Haven', but a 'Hound Hell'.

May 24, 2010
Email from Cesar's Way Customer Service to David Wolf:

Dear Mr. Wolf:

Your email has reached the subscription department for Cesar's Way.

The editorial department may be able to assist you with your request. Please contact them at http://www.cesarsway.com/contact.

Thank you for your interest in Cesar's Way.

Sincerely,

Patrick Smith
Customer Service

June 7, 2012
Email from David Wolf to KTLA News:

I recently viewed a KTLA news clip on youtube.com that was posted on June 1, 2012.

Not everything is what it seems at Hemopet. Undeniably, it is wonderful that dogs can help other dogs survive when they need blood transfusions BUT the continued exploitation of greyhounds beyond their racing days has no redeeming value. Dr. Dodds and the California Department of Agriculture are so closely tied together that I am sure California law was structured to her benefit, stating that California will only permit closed animal blood banks, in which animals must be housed, as opposed to animal bloodmobiles. The best canine blood bank in the United States is run by the University of Pennsylvania. They have a mobile unit that goes out to different areas each day and meets with pre-screened dogs of various breeds that give blood, receive the benefits of giving blood and then get to go home and sleep on a soft bed in their own homes.

Almost no one gets to see behind the doors where Dr. Dodds keeps her blood donor dogs. Even the dogs running in the yard on your news clip were stated to belong to a volunteer. A few years back, we actually researched some of the dogs Dr. Dodds had in her facility, which she had posted on her website. Out of the 39 dogs that we checked, 7 were there through misrepresentation. The owners believed that their dogs had been put into an adoption program and had no knowledge that their dogs were actually in a blood bank.. We have notarized letters in our files.

Maybe you would like to re-visit the subject and chat with me about it.

You need only look at Dr. Dodds' numbers....they don't add up! 23,000 greyhounds are born each year. If 1000 dogs died every week, like Dr. Dodds stated, the entire population of greyhounds would be wiped out pretty quickly. There are approximately 300 verifiable adoption groups in the United States that now adopt out most of greyhounds that are being retired. Some adoption programs are actually having trouble obtaining greyhounds available for adoption. As the number of tracks dwindle, it will become more difficult still. That being said, greyhounds are still being slaughtered in Florida and other states because the breeders find that easier.

Some years back, as an accommodation to greyhound owners, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine would euthanize 900 greyhounds each year. Those greyhounds that they took in were used for terminal surgeries or were beheaded with the heads being sent into the dental labs so that vet students could learn teeth cleaning skills. When the Freedom of Information Act was used to obtain this information, the University had the law changed. When confronted about their practices, they said it was too costly to spay/neuter, clean the dogs' teeth and put them up for adoption, even if there was a truck waiting to take them away to an adoption program. It was easier to kill them.

In Dr. Dodds case, she is squeezing the life blood out of exploited animals that have been squeezed enough for profit. Let them be adopted now! And why has she only managed to adopt 1500 in all these years when our organization, National Greyhound Adoption Program, has managed to adopt 7500 in that same period of time? And we don't keep 200 greyhounds here. You need to take a closer look and we would be more than happy to help you.